Laker_Aug_24_26

AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 1

Your Guide to What’s Happening in NH’s Lakes Region

FREE

August 24 • Vol 43 • No 21

The View from Here Exploring the People, Places and Stories that Make the Lakes Region Special

Inside This Issue... Find More Sophie C | Page 3

What’s Up | Pages 14-17

Yesteryear | Page 20

Page 2 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 3

M/V Sophie C Is Lake Winnipesaukee’s Floating Post Office

By Thomas P. Caldwell Lakes Region visitors often are surprised when they learn that the Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation, which operates Mount Washington Cruises, operates what is purported to be the oldest official floating post office in the United States, the M/V Sophie C. Initially launched 81 years ago, in 1945, the Sophie C actually follows a long line of mail boats that have been used to carry US mail.

According to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (https://postalmuseum.si.edu/moving-the-mailsteamboats), boats became a reliable way to carry the mail shortly after Robert Fulton launched America’s first successful steamboat line, connecting New York City and Albany via the Hudson River, in September 1807.

“Fulton’s steamboat carried mail as early as November 1808. Initially, letters were carried either unofficially by crew and passengers — bypassing local Post Offices — or under the existing provisions for ship letters, whereby postmasters at ports of call gave ship captains two cents for each letter and then charged letter recipients six cents postage. In 1810, Postmaster General Gideon Granger offered Fulton a contract to carry mail, but Fulton apparently declined,” the Smithsonian states.

That was soon followed by the New Orleans, the first commercial steamboat on the lower Mississippi River, which carried mail from New Orleans to Natchez, Mississippi, beginning in 1812. It also lacked a mail contract

and, by December, Natchez’s postmaster, John Hankinson, reported a drop in revenue due to people bypassing the Post Office.

Congress authorized the postmaster-general to enter into contracts with steamboats to carry mail in 1813, provided that the cost would be no more than delivering it by land. Then, on February 27, 1815, Congress authorized mail contracts with steamboats “on such terms and conditions as shall be considered expedient”. Steamboat captains on the Hudson River line quickly signed contracts, but steamboats on the Mississippi River continued to transport letters outside the postal service, or as ship letters.

Finally, in 1823, Congress made it illegal for private express companies to carry mail by steamboat, and the Post Office Department contracted with steamboat operators along the East Coast, with mail contractors using stagecoaches when waterways were iced in. By 1827, steamboats also carried mail by contract between Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans.

“In the mid-1800s, the Post Office Department greatly expanded its use of steamboats to carry mail,” the Smithsonian reports. “Between 1845 and 1855, the distance mail was transported by steamboat nearly doubled, from 7,625 to 14,619 miles.”

On Lake Winnipesaukee, the steamer Robert & Arthur offered the first mail

The M/V Sophie C is an official US Mail Boat. (Daryl Carlson/Kamera Image Photography)

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• Sophie C continued on page 4

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Page 4 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026 • Sophie C continued from page 3

camps, cottages, and the islands — Little Mark, Redhead (Treasure Island), Waveland (Keniston), Mud (Varney), Little Mud, Farm Island, Spectacle, Pistol, Little Bear, Devens, and Echo.

The boat also offered moonlight tours for vacationers and local residents.

Lake Winnipesaukee was not alone in utilizing mail boats for postal service in the past.

The Chocorua, a coal-fired steam vessel built on Lake Winnipesaukee, served Squam Lake at the turn of the last century, gaining postal service approval to deliver mail to the lake’s remote coves and islands in 1902. President Grover Cleveland and his family toured the 45-foot-long boat and em-

boat service in 1892. Two years later, the Dolphin took over the route. The Dolphin became the first official post office on an inland body of water, receiving that designation from the United States Congress in 1916.

Prior to the Sophie C, the longest-running vessel plying the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee was the Uncle Sam, which operated from 1906 to 1961.

Not every mail boat served the entire lake. The Tonimar delivered mail in the Alton Bay-Alton-Wolfeboro area starting in 1929 and continuing until 1965, making around 40 stops at summer

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barked for Chocorua Island to attend services in 1904.

Boston General Ship & Engine Works built the Sophie C in 1945 as a temporary replacement for the MS Mount Washington, whose engines and boilers had been commandeered by the Navy during World War II. The M/V Sophie C originally provided boat service between Weirs Beach and Wolfeboro, launching from Center Harbor.

The M/V Sophie C received its mail franchise in 1969 and has served as a floating post office ever since.

Mail Boat Cruises Today, the Sophie C continues to provide mail service to year-round and seasonal residents of the islands on Lake Winnipesaukee. Over the course of a summer, the Sophie C may deliver as many as 40,000 pieces of mail.

Passengers are welcome to join the 2.5-hour cruises. Along the way, the boat’s captain points out areas of interest and talks about life on the lake.

Island residents often come to meet the boat at the dock to collect their mail.

The Sophie C operates Mondays through Saturdays from mid-June

through mid-September, departing from a dock at Weirs Beach twice daily.

The 11 am cruise makes stops at Loon Island, Bear Island, 3 Mile Island, and East Bear Island, while the 2 pm cruise stops at Camp Lawrence, Birch Island, Sandy Island, Cow Island, and Jolly Island.

As an official floating US Post Office, the Sophie C carries its own postal cancellation stamp, and it sells postcards that passengers can fill out and mail right on board. An on-board gift shop also carries a variety of snacks and soft drinks, including ice cream novelty treats, as well as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other souvenirs.

The lower deck has varnished wooden benches. Up top, passengers are able to take in the sun and enjoy the open air while learning about the lake and its islands.

The Winnipesaukee Flagship Corporation also operates the MS Mount Washington, Winnipesaukee Belle, and Winnipesaukee Spirit. For more information and to book a cruise, go to https://cruisenh.com.

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 5

A New Hampshire Premiere: Shear Madness comes to The Barnstormers Theatre The Barnstormers Theatre is thrilled to present Shear Madness, a hilarious whodunnit, to the state for the very first time. Set in a Tamworth Village hair salon and complete with up-to-theminute news and gossip, this audience pleaser is never the same show twice.

Barnstormers Executive Artistic Director, Jordan Ahnquist, has a long history with this show, having performed it in Boston, NYC, and Washington, DC over the years. For the New Hampshire premiere, he leads the production as director and will also appear on stage as Tony Whitcomb, the salon owner.

“What makes Shear Madness so unique—and so fun for our audience— is that the story is tailored to Tamworth and New Hampshire itself,” Ahnquist said. “It’s filled with local references and regional humor so our production will be a one-of-a-kind experience perfect for longtime residents and visitors alike.”

Among Ahnquist’s castmates is Lisa McMillan as Mrs. Shubert. McMillan is currently appearing as Princess Dragomiroff in Murder on the Orient Express and was Gertrude Stockings in last year’s Front Row To Murder, for which she received a New Hampshire Theatre Alliance award for best supporting role. Like Ahnquist, McMillan

is reprising her role.

“I was lucky enough to perform this show with Jordan (Ahnquist) and Kate (Middleton) off-Broadway in NY, at the Kennedy Center, and regionally,” McMillan said. “The role never gets stale because the theatrical Fourth Wall is broken and the audience becomes involved with the show. This makes for an exciting and new performance each night!”

The zany cast of suspects also includes Shear Madness veterans Timothy Goodwin (Eddie Lawrence), Kate Middleton (Barbara DeMarco), Patrick Noonan (Nick O’Brien), and Chris Stinson (Mikey Thomas). Shear Madness is based on the 1963 German-language play by Paul Pörtner and was adapted for the American stage in the late 1970s by Bruce Jordan & Marilyn Abrams. Among its many accolades “Best Comedy of the Year” (The Boston Globe) and “Best Play of the Year” (Chicago Sun-Times and the Philadelphia Enquirer), the Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America, and induction into the Comedy Hall of Fame—the first play ever to receive that honor.

McMillan encourages theatregoers to put this show on their calendar. “If you love comedy, mystery and intrigue,

you are going to love Shear Madness!

And we are going to love having you with us!”

Tickets for Shear Madness and all of the summer productions are available at barnstormerstheatre.org or by calling 603-323-8500.

Shear Madness at The Barnstormers Theatre, sponsored by Frederick C. and Jean L. Seavey, will run through August 29 at 104 Main St., Tamworth, New Hampshire.

Located in the scenic village of Tamworth, New Hampshire, The Barnstormers Theatre is one of the oldest professional summer theatres in the country. Founded in 1931 by Francis

Cleveland — youngest son of President Grover Cleveland — his wife Alice, and their friend Ed Goodnow, all veterans of the Broadway stage, The Barnstormers continue their legacy more than 90 years later.

Today, it remains one of only four Equity theatres in New Hampshire, producing professional, high-caliber theatre each summer. Like many arts organizations, The Barnstormers relies on contributions, as ticket sales cover only about half of its operating costs.

Every gift helps sustain its mission and programs.

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Page 6 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Where Culture, Nature and History Meet: Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum

By Mark Okrant It is estimated that there were between 2 million and 18 million indigenous people in the United States and Canada when the first Europeans arrived. Here in New Hampshire, that figure was approximately 3000. The dominant group was the Penacook nation. Other, smaller bands of Abenaki and Algonquians—Winnipesaukee, Pigwacket, Sokoli, and Ossipee— were situated in major river valleys and along lakes. While Europeans have occupied New Hampshire for about 400 years, the Abenaki have lived in their traditional homeland— called N’dakinna—for at least 13,000 years. Native Americans revered and utilized nature as the source of all raw materials needed to sustain and enhance life.

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (MKIM) is situated on the ancestral lands of the Abenaki people, nestled below the peak of Kawasiwajo, the traditional Abenaki name of the mountain. A respect for the earth and all living things is central to the Native American way of life. This is

reflected throughout Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum. Situated on 12.5 acres, MKIM is just one mile up Kearsarge Mountain Road in Warner, The Abenaki people continue to share their traditional values, artistry, and respect for nature today. MKIM is committed to teaching and sharing what happened to the Indigenous people during the colonial period,

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and how that still affects them today. MKIM is a living center for artistic expression, traditional values, and contributions from past and contemporary Native life. The Museum embraces cultural diversity and encourages environmental action based upon respect for nature and a deeper understanding of Native cultures, serving as a center for the preservation of Native American history and for sharing Native cultures of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

In 1929, Grand Chief Sachem Silverstar of the Pequot tribe visited a second-grade classroom and delivered a message that transformed the life of one young boy, Charles “Bud” Thompson. Silverstar emphasized human interconnectedness to all other life. He told the children that within each of them was a special power, a talent, that could make the world a better place. The philosophy of Silverstar inspired Thompson and his wife, Nancy, co-founders of Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum. The Thompsons were deeply troubled by the harm being done to the environment by greed and apathy. With the help of friends, Bud and Nancy set in motion

a plan to create a new museum, not just a mausoleum of artifacts, but an education and cultural center.

MKIM’s artifacts, instead of being just things, inform the study of cultures and impart an understanding of how to live harmoniously with the land.

As a result, the museum’s galleries, grounds, and gardens were designed as teaching tools while offering a respite from the hectic pace of modern life.

Exhibits in the Museum’s interior allow visitors to travel through time and space, displaying artifacts and presenting information on prehistoric to contemporary Native Americans from every corner of the North American continent. Exhibits are changed and supplemented periodically. Those, along with workshops, lectures, and special events, provide a reason for people to visit frequently. Since its foundation in 1991, MKIM has welcomed visitors from all over the U.S. and 38 foreign countries. It hosts over 7,500 school children a year.

MKIM’s Medicine Woods Nature Trail provides an opportunity to learn about the natural environment and some of the ways Natives historically used plants for food, medicine, dye, shelter, and tools. What was once a dumping ground, this space exists as an educational tool that allows visitors to step out of the daily grind and reconnect with the Earth. Here, the founders created their beautiful Arboretum, with a trail and leveled pathways, with wild plants and others used by Native Americans. Since that time, the original trails have been widened and leveled, and new trails developed. The result is that the overall accessibility of the Medicine Woods has been greatly enhanced, • Indian Museum continued on page 8

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especially children, listen eagerly to descriptions of how plants were used and quickly grasp the idea that humans are part of the sacred circle and have a responsibility to act responsibly as caregivers to the Earth.

Native North Americans were an original element of the multi-cultural landscape of the United States.

Unfortunately, their complex cultures suffered, and continue to suffer

allowing visitors of all ages and abilities to experience it.

Today, Museum Educators take groups, including school groups, on tours through the Medicine Woods.

MKIM seeks to develop a greater understanding of, and active respect for, the natural world. Visitors, and

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after the arrival of the Europeans and the founding of our nation. The administration of MKIM believes it is essential that these native cultures are protected, as they exist nowhere but here. Much of the archaeological work done in the state relates to Native American artifacts.

Summer hours at MKIM will continue until October 31. The museum is open daily, MondaySaturday, from 10 am to 4 pm. Sunday hours are 12 to 4 pm. Remaining special events this season are the Harvest Moon Festival on Saturday, September 26, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 12. The Harvest Moon Festival is a Native American celebration of the harvest, the end of one cycle, and the beginning of another. Harvest Moon is about more than just crops and food. It is a celebration of a season’s worth of hard work throughout the community.

The event will include the opportunity

to make dolls from corn husks, sweet grass braids, and beading.

Visitors can enjoy watching the art of basketmaking, a demonstration by a flintknapper, and the process of how acorn flour is made. There will be sensory-friendly activities and games. The entire family will savor the taste of Native foods, including the ever-popular Hidatsa bison stew.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors America’s first inhabitants and the tribal nations that continue to thrive today. It will be celebrated at MKIM with free admission and a special program welcoming Native artists and authors as they discuss their individual styles and creative processes.

The Mt. Kearsarge Museum is located at 18 Highlawn Road, in Warner, just a few miles off Interstate 89 in central New Hampshire. For more information, visit info@ indianmuseum.org or telephone 603 456-2600.

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Page 10 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Granite Granite State State Scene Scene & & Heard Heard On Golden Pond: 45 Years Later, a New Look at a NH Classic

By Joel Bocko Nearly a half-century after its release, On Golden Pond remains perhaps the most famous film using the New Hampshire lakes region as its location. Released to acclaim, awards, and surprisingly big box office in 1981, the movie stars Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn as an elderly couple who spend their summer at a waterfront cabin reconciling with their daughter (Jane Fonda) and getting to know their step-grandson (Doug McKeon). Alongside a tight Hollywood ensemble, the idyllic Squam Lake establishes itself as an indispensable costar and integral part of the film’s lasting legacy.

Inspired by Ernest Thompson’s childhood visits to his grandfather on Maine’s Great Pond, the play and its cinematic adaptation are often characterized as taking place in a generalized New England (I didn’t catch any

particular references to Maine or New Hampshire, which would clarify its exact fictional setting). Locally, however, Squam Lake residents and promoters are eager to let visitors know exactly where the feature was shot. Memorable movie backdrops are highlighted by frequent boat cruises, including at least one “On Golden Pond Tour” singularly dedicated to memorializing the movie with accounts from a tour guide who was Hepburn’s personal assistant on the production.

Thompson himself still lives in nearby New Hampton, continuing to offer readings of his work and to sit for interviews about his most famous achievement; by 2019 he’d even aged into taking on the Fonda role himself, starring as Norman Thayer, Jr. in a Meredith re-staging of the play.

When On Golden Pond originally took him from striving actor to hugely successful writer, Thompson was still

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in his late twenties; photos from the time reveal a feathered-hair hot shot film industry player quite far from the cantankerous old coot he penned (he even accompanied Diana Ross to the Academy Awards where he won his Best Screenplay Oscar).

Nonetheless, Thompson insists in a recent WCVB conversation that he was always a homebody more content to curl up with a book than dive into a pool party. And indeed, he does seem quite at home in his latter-day, white-bearded old New Englander persona. Thompson is just one of several colorful characters associated with On Golden Pond. Like the writer, director Mark Rydell - who passed away on August 13 at the age of 97 - had a background in acting (perhaps most memorably as the sinister, largely improvised mobster in Robert Altman’s 1973 The Long Goodbye, capable of ingratiating charm and horrific violence). Of course, the actors in front of the camera have always been the film’s central draw, and for good reason: the stunt casting is very effective.

Fonda, Hepburn, and Fonda form not so much a close-knit trio as a dual

pair-off. Each pair rotates around Fonda (Henry), working with two actresses he’d never starred alongside before.

In one case, he and Hepburn get to achieve something that was still quite rare in the early 1980s. Both achieved stardom in their 1930s Golden Age youth, at which point an earlier generation of middle-aged stars had been cast aside in the transition between silent films and talkies; as such, these actors were among the first who had the opportunity to age all the way into their seventies onscreen. To see something so familiar (these two legends) in such an unusual context (together, and old!) was a treat that audiences were eager to consume.

The other hyped pairing involved the two Fondas, whose offscreen tensions were well-known and could even stand in for a broader societal post-sixties generation gap (although both Henry, born in 1905, and Jane, born in 1937, were slightly older than the oft-estranged Greatest Generation and baby boomers). Quite aside from the

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 11 • Scene & Heard continued from page 10 contrast of their public images - Henry an icon of midcentury Americana, and Jane an antiwar radical whose controversial actions and statements subverted the postwar consensus - the father and daughter had a fraught relationship. Poor communication and parental critique were particular thorns in their sides, echoed by the characters Thompson unwittingly wrote for this famous family.

Returning to On Golden Pond fortyfive years later (my own first viewing after decades familiar with its

reputation), I couldn’t help being struck by the passage of time. The larger world that the characters wistfully recall, regret, and attempt to release stretches back at least to the Great Depression; similarly aged characters today would be referencing...well, the very time period that this movie was released! Jane Fonda herself is now a full decade older than her father was at the time (he died within months of winning an Oscar for Best Actor), and two decades older than Hepburn was playing - though that actress was admittedly older than the part.

If that particular historical marker seems surprising, that’s because

the boundaries and capabilities of old age have stretched a great deal - both broadly, and very specifically in Jane Fonda’s case. (Interestingly, the actors who originated the older roles onstage were barely fifty - in fact, when Thompson directed a TV remake over twenty years later in 2000, its stars Christopher Plummer and Julie Andrews were actually contemporaries of the original Broadway cast). In other ways, old age may seem more perilous than ever. As the Laconia Daily Sun observed when Thompson revived the play locally, “Alzheimer’s wasn’t part of the national lexicon in 1978,

Scene & Heard Around New Hampshire

Here’s what’s playing in retrospective (or otherwise notably unique) screenings around the state between August 25 and September 7, 2026.

Highlight: The Wizard of Oz at The Flying Monkey – 6 pm on August 26: As a recommendation, I suppose this is low-hanging fruit (from the apple tree, surely), but a film that has become beloved for decades on TV broadcasts and home video still deserves to be seen on the big screen with an audience. Balancing its fairy tale whimsy and delightfully artificial yet dreamy soundstage sets with a Kansas-bound sense of depression (both big and little “D”), this classic is going on ninety years of entertaining viewers from those who lived through the Civil War to those experiencing the rise of AI - and even some happier times in between. Really, though, I have to

highlight this particular screening due to the venue’s name. How could I not!

Also playing (check theaters for showtimes) Lakes Region The Flying Monkey (in addition to The Wizard of Oz) - 39 Main St in Plymouth: A Complete Unknown on September 2 Movies in the Park at Hall Memorial Library - 18 Park St in Northfield: Road to El Dorado on August 28 Taylor Community, Woodside Building - 435 Union Ave in Laconia: Saving Walden’s World on August 27 Elsewhere in New Hampshire Fathom at Regal (45 Gosling Rd in Newington), Cinemark (15 Mall Rd in Salem) & Apple (38 Cinemagic Way in Hooksett & 11 Executive Park Dr in Merrimack): Terminator 2: Judgement Day on

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August 28 - September 2 The Hunger Games on September 3 The Hunger Games: Catching Fire on September 4 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 on September 5 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 on September 6 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes on September 7 Other non-Fathom retro screenings only at Regal Newington: The Last Blossom on August 30 - 31 Akira on September 3 - 10 Halloween Series September 4-6 The Nutty Professor (1996) on September 6 Month of Masterpieces only at Regal Newington (non-Fathom screenings) - picked by Regal & different filmmakers:

but it’s very much on people’s minds now: One out of three Americans will contract the disease.”

The vague afflictions that Norman experiences in the story - unable to recognize a family photo, absent-mindedly catching the cabin on fire, wandering in the woods without being able to identify where he is - have a more specific cadence for contemporary viewers than they may have back then. The slipping away of Norman’s mind along with his body is one of many darker elements haunting a setting so golden on its surface, providing a bittersweet tinge to the nostalgia generated by the

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Page 12 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Michael Jackson HIStory Show at Colonial Theatre this October The Colonial Theatre of Laconia will present The Michael Jackson HIStory Show on Wednesday, October 14, at 7:30 pm. Tickets to the show are available at ColonialLaconia.com or by calling 800-657-8774.

Showtime presents this spectacular music tribute and full-scale stage production honoring the one and only King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Celebrate Jackson’s creative genius and unsurpassed talent with riveting live performances covering his early days as a member of the Jackson 5, his groundbreaking theatrics in the 80s, and his continued domination of Pop culture into the 21st century.

See the famous music videos come to life, and hear all the hits performed live, including Thriller, Billie Jean,

Smooth Criminal, Bad, Beat It, ABC, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, Human Nature, PYT, They Don’t Really Care About Us, and many more.

Garth Field is electrifying in his role as Jackson, accompanied by a live band, choreographed dancers, authentic costumes, state-of-the-art sound and theatrical lighting, vision, and effects.

Truly a mind-blowing stage production – book now to secure your seats close to the action! *This is a tribute show and is not associated with the Estate of Michael Jackson.

Tickets for The Michael Jackson HIStory Show at the Colonial Theatre of Laconia on Wednesday, October 14, at 7:30 pm are available at ColonialLaconia.com or by calling 800-657-8774.

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Importance of Wildlife Corridors The Newfound Lake Region Assodrop-in participation. Each discussion ciation (NLRA) invites community stands on its own, so participants can members to gather for an engaging attend any conversation. Articles are conversation about the natural world shared in advance, and no prior experat Let’s Talk Nature: Wildlife Corritise is needed. dors – Why Connectivity Matters on Event details and a link to the article Wednesday, September 2, from 10:30can be found at NewfoundLake.org/ 11:30 am at the Grey Rocks Conservaevents. tion Center at 178 North Shore Road “Wildlife doesn’t recognize the in Hebron. boundaries we’ve created on a map,” This facilitated, informal discussion said Mirka Zapletal, Education and ThingsLet’s to see ThingsOutreach to do Manager. “This discussion is part of the ongoing Talkand Nature series, which brings people together for is an opportunity to think beyond inthoughtful, community-centered condividual properties and protected areas versations inspired by short, engaging and consider how we can keep the largarticles on conservation, climate, and er landscape connected for wildlife and ecology. The September conversation for people.” will explore the idea of wildlife corriParticipants are encouraged to bring dors and the role they play in helping their curiosity and an open mind. Light animals move, find food, reproduce, refreshments will be provided. and adapt to a changing landscape.

NLRA’s mission is to protect and We’ll look at the Yellowstone-to-Yuimprove the health of the Newfound kon effort, including wildlife crossLake Watershed, supporting ecosystem ings, protected lands, and partnerships resilience and natural resource conwith landowners and communities, and servation through focused programs discuss what makes landscape-scale and community engagement. More conservation possible. information about the Newfound Lake Designed to be welcoming and easy Region Association and its education to join, Let’s Talk Nature functions like and outreach programs can be found at a book group but is structured for easy NewfoundLake.org.

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 13

The Oldest Summer Resort in America

Black’s Paper Store HARDWARE & RENTAL

New Photography Display at Effingham Public Library Emilie Talpine will be the featured artist on exhibit at the Effingham Public Library through the months of September and October.

Her photographic images of astro and earthly landscapes, insects and wildlife, as well as macro photography, particularly water drop refraction, are sure to have a jaw-dropping effect. We invite you to join us during our open hours to experience in person the stunning in-depth look at the world around us.

Emilie Talpin is an OM SYSTEM Ambassador and 3 Legged Thing Pro Team. She grew up in Chalonsur-Saône, France, the birthplace of Nicéphore Niépce and the first photograph. Despite this background, she got into photography very late, and in 2018 joined a local camera club where she met a group of talented photographers and was inspired to dive deeper into the art of capturing moments in time.

Now, everywhere she goes, it is with her trusted camera by her side. As a

former French teacher, she is inherently eager to learn and try new material, a practice also applied outside the classroom as she explores the world around her and chases her next photo.

Emilie Talpin has been published and featured in Petapixel magazine, the Phoblographers, Sciences et Vie Junior, The Weather Channel, B & H, Adorama, Hunt’s Photo and Video, OM SYSTEM, and 3 Legged Thing.

She also has her own YouTube channel, where she publishes educational videos every Sunday.

The Effingham Public Library, 30 Town House Road, is a “community center with books,” located in a National Register of Historic Places building. We offer free library cards, monthly art exhibits, craft classes, 3-D printing, Coffee Hour speakers, and social activities for all ages. For our calendar of events or more information, please feel free to call us at 603-5391537 or visit our website at effingham. lib.nh.us/.

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Page 14 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

What’s UP

your guide to what’s happening in NH’s Lakes Region...

Have A Cup of Happy on a Gloomy Day CHECK online for our 2026 class schedule

Ossipee Historical Society, 10 am – noon, Tues., Thurs. & Sat. in Aug., 50 Rt. 16B, Center Ossipee, www.historicalsocietyofossipee.org.

Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center, programs for adults and children, 928 White Oaks Road, Laconia, www.prescottfarm.org. Call ahead for event information and to inquire if program pre-registration is necessary: 603-366-5695.

Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Rd., Tamworth, 603-323-7591, www.remickmuseum.org.

SHOP in the Gallery or ONLINE

279 DW Hwy. • Meredith • 603-279-7920 • Meredith.NHCrafts.org • Mon - Sat: 10-5 • Sun: 12-5 Like us on Facebook so you can see other beautiful things made by NH’s finest artists ~ www.facebook.com/nhcraft

Sculpture Walk, tours of outdoor sculptures around downtown/lakeside areas of Meredith, free, Greater Meredith Program, maps: 603-279-9015.

Squam Lakes Association, 534 US Rt. 3, Holderness, 603-968-7336, www. squamlakes.org.

Squam Lake Cruises, family/educational cruises to look for loons, & wildlife, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, www.nhnature.org, call for hours/dates of operation: 603-968-7194.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, live animal trail & events, Rt. 113 Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Wright Museum of WWII, exhibits and lectures of life on the home front during WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum. org.

Through Aug. 30, 86th Annual Members Exhibit, Thurs.-Sunday, 10 am, free, Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org.

BEAR SHOWS TRAIN RIDES WOLFMAN YANDONG’S CHINESE ACROBATS & MUCH MORE!

CLARKSBEARS.COM 603-745-8913 110 U.S. Route 3, Lincoln, NH 03251

Through Aug. 31, BioBlitz, intro. Sessions Mondays and Wednesdays at 11:30 am, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Through Oct. 31, From Sails to Atoms: The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, exhibit about the history and impact of the shipyard, Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org.

Aug. 24, Discovery Walk With A Naturalist, 10 – 11 am, guided walk exploring seasonal wonders, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, Newfound Lake Region Association, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

Aug. 24, Monarch Monitoring Mondays, 9 - 10:30 am, on Mondays, held at Pemi Oxbow Preserve, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Aug. 24, Story Time and Craft Hour, 11 am – noon, free, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), held near Shannon Pond, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org. (In partnership with Moultonborough Public Library) Aug. 24, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 – 7 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds. org.

Aug. 25, BioBlitz: Walks with an Expert – Amphibians with Barry Draper, 10 am - noon, for ages 12 and up, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, space limited, advance registration required: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

August 25, Brushstrokes & Blooms Class, 10 am – 2 pm, explore the beauty of watercolor, pre-register: ArtWorks CCAC, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-323-8041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

Aug. 25, Lecture Series: Jonathan Rose – The Federal Reserve’s Role During WWII, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org.

THE EXPERTS IN ALL THINGS PAVED

Aug. 25, Open Mic: An Evening of Poetry and Music, 6 – 8 pm, Moultonborough Public Library, 4 Holland St., Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-8895, www.moultonboroughlibrary.org.

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Aug. 26, America’s Birth in Stirring Words: Revolutionary War Battles and Poems They Inspired, 6 – 7:30 pm, with Jeffrey Zygmont, Wolfeboro Public Library, 259 South Main St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-2428, www.wolfeboropubliclibrary.org.

Aug. 26, Concerts on Canal, Chris White Bandine, 5 – 9 pm, Canal St., Laconia, all ages welcome, held rain or shine, 603-527-8124.

Complete Pet Care AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 15

What’s UP

your guide to what’s happening in NH’s Lakes Region...

NOT JUST A GRAIN STORE...

Aug. 26, Plankton Monoprint Workshop, 9:30 am – 2 pm, registration required, workshop fee, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, Newfound Lake Region Association, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

GOODY_GOOD_GRAPHICS_030225

Aug. 27, BioBlitz: Walks with an Expert – Invasive Plant Species with Liz Stevens, Master Gardener, 10 am - noon, for ages 12 and up, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, space limited, advance registration required: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Aug. 27, Don Bartenstein, 5 – 6 pm, free, Marceau Park, Central St., downtown Franklin, 603-934-1901, www.franklinoperahouse.org.

Aug. 27, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

Aug. 27, Saving Walden’s World, 2 pm, documentary screening, Taylor Community, Woodside Building, 435 Union Ave., Laconia, free, reserve a spot: https://events.humanitix.com/saving-walden-s-world-to-screen-in-laconia-nh, public welcome.

Whether farmer, pet owner, backyard gardener or wildlife enthusiast you will find almost everything you need in our stores.

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Aug. 27, Volcanoes and Cellar Holes, 10 am – noon, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Ol Mountain Rd., Moultonborough, pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Aug. 28, Back in Black AC - DC, 8 – 10 pm, Lakeport Opera House, 781 Union Ave., Laconia, 603-519-7506, www.lakeportopera.com.

Expires 11.23.26 While supplies last daily.

Aug. 28, Friday Night Music, Friday Music Nights – The Sweetbloods, 5 – 8 pm, Mill Falls Marketplace, 312 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, free, rain cancels, www.millfalls.com.

Aug. 28, Hey Nineteen – A tribute to Steely Dan, 8 pm, Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St., Rochester, 603-335-1992, www.rochesteroperahouse. com.

Aug. 28, Introduction to Screen Printing with William Mitchell, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, sign up by Aug. 25: 603-279-7920.

Aug. 28, Langhorne Slim, 7 pm, Prescott Park Arts Festival River House Restaurant Concert Series, Wilcox Main Stage, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 603-436-2848, www.prescottpark.org.

Aug. 28, Second Annual Woodworking Fundraiser, 6 – 8 pm, Art of Turning, held at Twin Barns, Co., Meredith, 100% of funds go to local food pantries, info.: www.artofturning.com.

Aug. 28 & 29, Gilford Community Church Summer Fair, 8/28: 4 - 6:30 pm, 8/29: 8 am-1 pm, white elephant, baked goods, silent auction, food, music and more, 8/29: Magic Show with Magic Fred, 19 Potter Hill Rd., Gilford, 603524-6057.

1010 White Mountain Highway (Rte.16) Ossipee • 603-539-4006

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Aug. 29, Black Bear Trail Races, 6 am – 6 pm, 1 mile fun run, Town Square, Waterville Valley, 1-800-993-3149.

Aug. 29, Bristol Old Home Day, 10 am - 3 pm, Kelley Park, 41 North Main St., Bristol, free, public welcome, bristolevents@bristolnh.gov.

Aug. 29, Eric Grant Band, 7 – 9 pm, Cate Park, South Main St., Wolfeboro, www.wolfeborobandstand.org.

Aug. 29, Felted Birch Landscape with Hannah Gage, 2 – 4 pm, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, sign up by Aug. 26: 603-279-7920.

Aug. 29, Gilford Old Home Day, parade, craft vendors, music & more, Gilford Village, 603-524-4723, www.gilfordrec.com.

Aug. 29, Saturday Hikes, 8:30 – 11:30 am, free, Lower & Upper Bridle Paths, Castle in the Clouds, 455 Ol Mountain Rd., Moultonborough, pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

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Aug. 29, Summer Concert Series, 7 – 9 pm, Cool Beans, 60s and 70s rock, Alton Bay Bandstand, Alton Bay, 603-875-0109.

Aug. 29, The Devil Makes Three, 7 pm, Prescott Park Arts Festival River House Restaurant Concert Series, Wilcox Main Stage, 105 Marcy St., Portsmouth, 603-436-2848, www.prescottpark.org.

Aug. 30, Jonatha Brooke, 6 pm, Feel the Barn Music, food available at 6 pm, 1118 Page Hill Rd., Chocorua, tickets/info.: 603-323-6169, www.thefarmstand. net.

nick@asharperimagelandscape.com

Page 16 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

What’s UP

your guide to what’s happening in NH’s Lakes Region...

Aug. 30, Music on the Green with Caitlin Piper & Damian Bernardini, 4 -5 pm, pay what you can, takes place at Meetinghouse lawn, Canterbury Shaker Village, Shaker Rd., Canterbury, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org.

Aug. 31, Discovery Walk with a Naturalist, 10 - 11 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www. newfoundlake.org.

Aug. 31, Monarch Monitoring Mondays, 9 - 10:30 am, on Mondays, held at Pemi Oxbow Preserve, Holderness, program of Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Rd., Holderness, pre-registration: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

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Aug. 31, Story Time and Craft Hour, 11 am – noon, free, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), held near Shannon Pond, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, pre-registration: 603-476-5410, www.castleintheclouds.org. (In partnership with Moultonborough Public Library) Aug. 31, Yoga on the Lawns of Lucknow, 6 – 7 pm, Castle in the Clouds (Lucknow), pre-registration required: 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Sept. 1, Lantern Making Workshop, 3 – 5 pm, Cook Memorial Library, 93 Main St., Tamworth, with Arts Council of Tamworth and Chocorua Lake Conservancy to show off at the Parade of Lights, sign up: www.chocorualake.org.

Sept. 1, Lecture Series: Peter May – The Open Question, Ben Hogan and Golf’s Most Enduring Controversy, 7 – 8 p.m., Wright Museum of WWII, 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, admission/reservations: 603-569-1212, www.wrightmuseum.org.

Sept. 1, Main Street Museum Open House and Tours, 5 – 7 pm, Meredith Historical Society, 45 Main St., 603-279-1190, www.meredithhistoricalsocietynh.org. Hotdogs and ice cream served.

Sept. 3, Katrina Marie Band, 6 pm, Hermit Woods Winery, 72 Main St., Meredith, 603-253-7968, www.hermitwoods.com.

Enhance your outdoor spaces with our expert hardscaping services.

Sept. 3, Kids Nature Exploration, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

Sept. 4, BioBlitz Wrap-Up Celebration and Ice Cream Social, 5 – 6:30 pm, for all ages, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, free, advance registration required: 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Sept. 4, First Friday at ArtWorks, 5 – 7 pm, apps, conversation and art.

ArtWorks Chocorua Creative Arts Center, 132 Rt. 16, Chocorua, 603-3238041, www.chocoruaartworks.com.

Sept. 4, Make Your Own Earrings with Becky Sawyer, 10 am - 1 pm, League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, sign up by Sept. 2: 603-279-7920.

Sept. 4, Newfound Watershed Hike: Little Pond, Cockermouth Forest, volunteer led hike, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm, Grey Rocks Conservation Center, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, info.: 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

We understand that your home is your sanctuary; we’re here to ensure it reflects your vision and lifestyle.

Sept. 5, Billie D & the Rock-Its, 7 – 9 pm, Cate Park, South Main St., Wolfeboro, www.wolfeborobandstand.org.

Sept. 5, Family Chalk Art Festival & Rider Rally, 11 am – 1 pm, Packard’s Field, Waterville Valley, 1-800-993-3149.

Sept. 5, Munroe Preserve Fall Clean Up, 9 am – noon, program of Moose Mt. Regional Greenways, Granite Rd., Ossipee, pre-register: 603-473-2020, www. mmrgnh.org.

Sept. 6, End of Summer Bash, 5 – 8:30 pm, duck race, music, fireworks over Corcoran Pond, Waterville Valley, 1-800-993-3149.

Sept. 5-6, Gunstock Labor Day Weekend Craft Fair, Gunstock Mt. Resort, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Rt. 11A, Gilford, 10 am, 603-387-1510.

Sept. 6, Alana MacDonald, 6 pm, Feel the Barn Music, food available at 6 pm, 1118 Page Hill Rd., Chocorua, tickets/info.: 603-323-6169, www.thefarmstand. net.

Sept. 6, Annual Picnic & Parade of Lights, 6 – 9 pm, The Grove, Chocorua, picnic and magical lantern parade on Chocorua Lake at dusk, Chocorua Lake Conservancy, www.chocorualake.org., info.: 603-323-6252.

(603) 796-2822 MDMNH.COM

Sept. 6, Fireworks, 9:30 pm, over Weirs Beach, shot from a barge, Weirs Action Committee, www.weirsbeachfireworks.com.

AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 17

What’s UP

your guide to what’s happening in NH’s Lakes Region...

Start Your Day Off Over Easy BREAKFAST & LUNCH - MADE FRESH DAILY

Grab breakfast or lunch at The Farmer’s Kitchen. We use only the freshest ingredients for our homemade creations.

Come by today to try our:

ONGOING Ashland Railroad Museum, 69 Depot St., Rt. 132, Ashland, 603-707-2683, www.ashlandnhhistory.org.

100% Colombian Coffee freshly ground from whole beans Farm fresh eggs | Specialty Omelets Eggs Benedict - topped with homemade hollandaise, made fresh to order Buttermilk Pancakes | French Toast served on thick Texas toast Sandwiches & Burgers | Don't forget to check out our daily breakfast & lunch specials!

Back Bay Skippers, Glendon St., Wolfeboro, info./schedule: www.backbayskippers.com, www.nhbm.org.

Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia, gallery and textile museum, events and programs, 603-524-8813, www.belknapmill.org.

Bingo, doors open at 5 pm, game begins at 6:30 pm, presented by Lion’s Club, held at Moultonborough Function Hall on Tues. evenings, 139 Old Rt. 109, Moultonborough, 603-477-8868.

Breakfast Buffet, 7 - 11 am, Wolfeboro Masonic Lodge, 35 Trotting Track Rd., Wolfeboro. Served the second Sunday of every month, 603-569-4637.

Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, tours, programs, 603-783-9511, www.shakers.org.

Castle in the Clouds, Rte. 171, Moultonborough, 603-476-5900, www.castleintheclouds.org.

Cruise with a Naturalist, through Sept. 17, 3 – 4:30 pm, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

444 NH Route 11 | Farmington, NH | 603-755-9900 www.Farmerskitchen-NH.com

Lake Winnipesaukee Boat Tours

By Reservation with Capt. Bill Up To 14 Passengers

Go anywhere you want to go on the lake!

Commercially Licensed & Insured Affordable Hourly Rates • 508-243-8185 www.lakewinnitours.com

Day & Evening Cruises, M/S Mount Washington, Weirs Beach, 603-366BOAT, www.cruisenh.com.

Discover Squam Lake Guided Cruises, 1 – 2:30 pm, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Indoor Pickleball, 5 - 7 pm, Sandwich Elementary School gym, Sandwich, Tues., Thurs. Friday, 603-387-2180, parksandrec@sandwichnh.org.

Kirkwood Gardens, free, open to public year-round, Rt. 3, Holderness, tour the gardens, www.nhnature.org, 603-968-7194.

Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, historic Lakes Region artifacts and information, souvenir postcards, plates, paperweights, memorabilia, summer camp historical information and more, 503 Endicott St., North, Laconia, 603-366-5950, www.lwhs.us.

Lakes Region Art Association, exhibits and classes, Suite 300, Tanger Outlet, Rte. 3, Tilton, 603-998-0029, www.lraanh.org.

League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Fine Craft Gallery, handmade crafts and art for sale, workshops, 279 Daniel Webster Highway, Meredith, 603-2797920.

Loon Center, walking trails, 183 Lees Mill Rd., Moultonborough, 603-4765666, www.loon.org.

Loon Cruise, 3 – 4:30 pm, Mondays and Fridays through Aug. 21, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Holderness, 603-968-7194, www.nhnature.org.

Makers Mill, variety of workshops, arts and crafts classes and more, 23 Bay St., Wolfeboro, 603-569-1500, www.makersmill.org.

Millie B., cruise on Millie B., a replica of a 1928 Hacker-Craft, 45-minute tour, info/tours: NH Boat Museum, Wolfeboro, www.nhbm.org, 603-569-4554.

M/S Mount Washington, day and evening cruises, Weirs Beach, 603-366BOAT, www.cruisenh.com.

Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

New Hampshire Farm Museum, 1305 White Mt. Highway, Milton, 603-6527840, www.nhfarmmuseum.org.

Newfound Lake Association, programs, classes, discovery walks, exhibits, Eco Tours, lake activities, Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Rd., Hebron, 603-744-8689, www.newfoundlake.org.

Newfound Lake Eco-Tours, informative/scientific tours of Newfound Lake, through mid-Sept., Newfound Lake Association, www.newfoundlake.org, call for hours/dates of operation: 603-744-8689.

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Science Lecture Series Live Animal Trail open daily May 1 - November 1 Guided Squam Lake Cruises Mid-May - Mid-October Guided Discoveries Camps April Break & Summer

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Page 18 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Jerry Seinfeld Coming to Capitol Center for the Arts this September America’s premier comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, comes to the Capitol Center for the Arts to perform his newest stand-up routine on September 3, 2026, at 7 pm. Seinfeld has been hailed for his uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.

Jerry Seinfeld’s comedy career took off after his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up

with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful comedy series in the history of television: Seinfeld.

The show ran on NBC for nine seasons, winning numerous Emmys, Golden Globes, and People’s Choice awards, was named the greatest television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide, and in 2012 was identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/ Vanity Fair poll.

His latest Emmy-nominated Netflix projects include Jerry Before Seinfeld and 23 Hours to Kill, along with the highly acclaimed web series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Seinfeld has also starred in, written, and produced movies (Comedian, Bee Movie), directed and produced a Broadway hit (Colin Quinn: Long Story Short), and wrote three best-selling books (Is this Anything?, The Comedians in Cars Getting Cof-

fee Book, and Seinlanguage) and a children’s book (Halloween). He stars in the Emmy-nominated comedy film, Unfrosted, which he directed, co-wrote, and produced. Seinfeld continues to perform both nationally and internationally.

The Chubb Theatre at Capitol Center for the Arts is located at 44 S. Main Street, Concord. Tickets for the show are available at ccanh.com.

Join the Newfound Lake Region Association for a Pollinator-Themed StoryWalk® can explore the conservation center, enjoy more trails with scenic views of the Cockermouth River and Hebron Marsh, unpack a picnic in the picnic area, throw in a line at the fishing alcoves, or even launch a kayak or canoe at the non-motorized boat launch. NLRA maintains Grey Rocks Conservation Area as a place for people and

wildlife alike.

Wildlife is abundant, with bald eagles, tadpoles, turtles, and loons being a common sight.

NLRA has carefully transformed the once barren landscape into an array of natural habitats, providing color from both the plants and the wildlife that frequents them.

The 2026 StoryWalk®, along with

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other family programs and events, is part of NLRA’s initiative to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the natural beauty around them, learn more about the environment and how to protect it, and fall in love with the Newfound Watershed. By connecting the people of Newfound to the wonders around them, NLRA works to inspire the next generation of stewards and fulfill the mission of protecting Newfound Lake and its watershed. Learn more about the NLRA, including other upcoming events at NewfoundLake.org.

s

C

Newfound Lake Region Association invites you to get outside and read! Join us at Grey Rocks Conservation Area from August 21 through September 29 as StoryWalk® returns with “Begin with a Bee” written by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, and Phyllis Root and illustrated by Claudia McGehee. “Begin with a Bee” takes readers through the life cycle of rustypatched bumble bees. As visitors move along the trail, they will travel through the seasons with the bees and complete a StoryWalk®-themed scavenger hunt.

Along with the StoryWalk®, visitors

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 19

“Putting the Garden to Bed” at the Gafney Library Have you ever wondered what you should do with your garden once the season is over? Join Ron Trexler, a UNH Extension Master Gardener, for “Putting the Garden to Bed” on Wednesday, September 9, at 5:30 pm, which will be held in the Gafney Library Community Room (14 High Street, Sanbornville).

During this presentation, attendees will learn the steps necessary to properly prepare their gardens for winter, including finishing off annuals and vegetable beds, prepping perennial beds to give plants the best opportunity to emerge healthy and vigorous in the spring, and reducing the impact of potential pests and diseases. In

addition, attendees will learn how to overwinter non-hardy plants, prepare ornamental shrubs and evergreens to withstand various winter conditions, and care for tools and supplies.

Ron Trexler has been a UNH Extension Master Gardener since 2016 and has achieved the level of Advanced Master Gardener. He is extensively involved in training and mentoring new Master Gardeners, trains Master Gardeners who wish to participate in the Master Gardeners Speakers Bureau, and regularly presents to libraries, garden clubs, and community organizations. In addition, Trexler serves on the Executive Board of the NH Master Gardener’s Alumni

Association as Membership Chair and is the past President of the Hooksett Garden Club. He especially enjoys growing vegetables in raised beds that benefit from his home composting system. His favorite flowers are crocosmia and hibiscus, of which he has several varieties.

The Master Gardener volunteer program started at Washington State University in 1973, and started in New Hampshire in 1993. Master Gardeners are trained volunteers who share their passion for gardening with the public.

By serving in a volunteer capacity, Master Gardeners help UNH reach and educate more people. UNH has qualifications for becoming a Master

Gardener and requirements such as volunteer hours and attending a Master Gardener class.

The next Extension Master Gardener in-person volunteer training will take place from September 1-November 17, 2026, each Tuesday from 9 am - 4 pm in Plymouth, NH. For further information, visit https:// extension.unh.edu/resource/aboutnew-hampshire-master-gardenerprogram, or for any questions, contact Ruth Smith at ruth.smith@unh.edu.

For more information, call Library Director Amy Swanson at 603.522.3401. Library programs are free and open to the public.

Coalition of Non-Profits Launches Art Program for Veterans and First Responders The Carroll County Veterans Coalition, Harbor Care, Hidden Battles Foundation, Tamworth Community Nurse Association, and the Arts Council of Tamworth are excited to announce the launch of a new multi-location therapeutic art program specifically for veterans and first responders in New Hampshire. The program will hold sessions in Franklin, Nashua, and Tamworth. The program is free for all participants.

The Veterans & First Responders Art Program is open to military veterans, active-duty service members, Guards and Reserves members active and retired, law enforcement personnel, fire service members, and emergency medical services personnel. The group is intended to provide a safe and supportive community for participants to explore their creative sides, meet with others with shared experiences, and build community bonds.

The group is led by arts instructor Nona Angelini. In addition to her professional education in psychology and fine arts, Nona has a background in

health services and veterans’ services.

This includes previous employment as a veteran case worker with Operation Delta Dog. Ms. Angelini will provide instruction in a variety of visual arts for program participants.

All sessions will begin in September and take place every month: Tamworth Location will be at Tamworth Community Nurse Association at 86 Main St., Tamworth, NH 03886; on the 2nd Saturday, 9-11 am; Regis-

tration link: forms.gle/pWkKvPmrLBGUiRqL9.

Franklin Location will be at Eas-

terSeals at 27 Holy Cross Rd., Franklin, NH 03235; 2nd Saturday, 12:30 2:30 pm; Registration link: forms.gle/ D4xy58vV5kDtGYfX7.

Nashua Location will be at Harbor Care at 77 Northeastern Blvd., Nashua, NH 03062; 3rd Thursday, 6 – 8 pm; Registration link: forms.gle/CXm5nrs1jzGsC7q19.

For more information on the Tamworth program, please visit www.artstamworth.org/veterans-art-program.

For more information on the Franklin program, please visit eastersealsnh.org/ programs/military-veterans-campus/.

For more information on the Nashua program, please visit harborcarenh. org/veteran-services/.

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Page 20 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Yester year Needle and Thread - Rural Crafts of the Lakes Region

By Kathi Caldwell-Hopper Once upon a time, keeping the family warm and clothed was the job of wives and mothers. Most evenings were spent by the fireplace with the woman of the house mending clothing, darning socks, or making a garment for a family member. After a day’s hard work, the woman probably sighed from fatigue but pulled out her needle and thread, knowing that to let a shirt or pants go unpatched meant greater expense down the road.

Such chores were usually considered women’s work and rarely respected as a handicraft. However, women found all sorts of ways to turn household tasks into something creative and enjoyable.

One such task was rug-making to keep floors warmer in winter. Rugs

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served the purpose of keeping out drafts and chill from houses, but they were also expensive to purchase. As an alternative, women gathered old clothing and rags and repurposed them via braiding and hooking to make rugs.

This was not seen or respected as artistic work, but the women got some pleasure from the task.

All that changed when the artisan appeal of hooked and braided rugs came to the forefront. Home crafts that had always been a sensible part of daily life, from basket weaving to rug making to other fabric work, morphed into something respected. People began to take a second look at handmade things and saw the talents of local women and sometimes men in these jobs.

At Canterbury Shaker Village, rag rugs were made by some of the Sis-

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ters of the community. Within the broader Shaker communities, two- and four-harness looms made plain weave and twill cloth. The Shaker Sisters wove for their own needs but also made items for sale to those they called The World’s People (the outside world).

The Shakers did all sorts of handiworks to make money to support their community, from textiles to woodwork to other sewing projects. From the early days of the Shakers (1790s), the members made use of their farm animals, especially the sheep (for wool), and they also harvested linen. Their creations were seen as both beautiful and practical, with Shaker rag rugs very popular.

The rag rugs made by the Canterbury Shakers were durable, attractive and good for covering and warming a floor. The Shakers used traditional floor looms and made tightly woven, durable rugs which were seen as a respected artisan craft.

Children from the Shaker villages were taught to sew and embroider and were expected to darn socks and help make clothing. (Perhaps as they grew, they were allowed to help make the rag rugs and other handmade items?)

Another early pioneer in the artisan craft of rug making was Helen Albee.

She brought attention to the textile craft and permission for homemakers and others to create beautiful things and to sell their works.

In the late 1800s, when Albee worked as an artist, she was also seen as a supporter of women’s rights. She was passionate about elevating women and their creative work in the fiber arts so they could have an income.

Helen and her husband, John Albee, were summer residents in Tamworth, surrounded by other area artists and scholars. They loved the area and soon settled permanently in Tamworth.

Albee had attended the New York Institute of Artists-Artisans before moving to Tamworth. She learned about artisan crafts while studying and wanted to bring the skills to rural women. She explained her philosophy, “to emphasize the intrinsic value of hand-work if coupled with beauty and honesty, a value which most persons have quite forgotten, so universal are machine-made things in our market.” Albee and others of her generation wanted a return to handmade items to offset a fast-changing, industrial world.

In an effort to help the local domestic economy, Albee settled upon something local women knew how to do: craft hooked rugs. She experimented with plants and flowers to extract the correct colors for rug fabric dyes. She called her new business Abnakee Rugs, and her products soon were popular with customers and large stores around the country. The rugs brought money and creativity to New Hampshire’s rural areas.

The nearby Sandwich Home Industries was also seeing success in the area.

Women got a financial boost by selling handmade items from baskets to quilts to hooked rugs and other creations at the Industry shop in Sandwich.

Likely, many of the students at the local Quimby School had parents who were making and selling things at the Industry shop. Because the school had

• Yesteryear continued on page 21

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AUGUST 24, 2026 | THE LAKER | Page 21

Still Time to Buy “Harleys for Hospice” Raffle Tickets to Benefit Granite VNA Hospice Services Granite VNA’s “Harleys for Hospice” raffle is nearing the finish line and tickets are going fast! The winner will take home a custom 2026 Harley-Davidson® FLHC Heritage Classic designed by acclaimed local tattoo artist Jimmy ‘Snaz’ MacKenzie from the hit Spike TV show Ink Master. Tickets are $20 and available online at granitevna.org/ harleys and will be sold until 11 am on September 12, when the winner will be drawn at Laconia Harley-Davidson’s annual “Hog Wild’ event.

Granite VNA partnered with Laconia Harley-Davidson to raise critical funding for Granite VNA hospice services, which provide nursing, pain management, spiritual care, emotional support,

and companionship to patients on hospice across 72 communities in central New Hampshire and at Hospice House.

“We are grateful to Laconia Harley-Davidson and Jimmy Snaz for partnering with us for this special Harleys for Hospice raffle. Their dedication to the community is exemplary, and the proceeds

• Yesteryear continued from page 20

group of knitters who assembled in the 1930s. According to “Handicrafts of New England’ by Allen H. Eaton, Wintersportswear originally had six women workers, organized by Mrs. Mary Dodge. Mary designed mittens, inspired by those of Norway. She supervised the women and inspected and packed the orders of mittens, caps, and socks. The women also did peasant-type embroidered designs, and the handmade products were sold to New York City and Boston stores.

Wrote Mrs. Dodge, “Our little industry has grown in 11 years to include 40 knitters. Last year we did $10,000 of business and made 5,200 items…the women are fine hard-working farmer’s wives, women with children or shutins – all loving the few dollars a week they earn in their evenings and spare time.”

All over the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and beyond, over the years women have found ways to tend to their household chores and sometimes, turn those tasks into something creative, beautiful and money making.

an emphasis on teaching home industry to its students, the Quimby School got in on the act and began to sell handmade items, in particular the honey they produced.

The Quimby School closed in the early 1960s, and the building, which had once been classrooms, was sold to Roberta and Robert Ayotte. They opened a studio offering “Handweaving and Much More.” The shop consisted of a weaving studio and a gift shop. Roberta had significant talent as a weaver, and she created and sold fabric she wove by hand.

Roberta was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and with her husband, Robert, ran the business when they relocated permanently to Sandwich, New Hampshire. Their success led to the popular “Handweaving with Robert and Roberta,” a multi-book course that sold worldwide, according to “Our Women of Sandwich” by the Sandwich Historical Society.

North of the Lakes Region, the Whitefield Wintersportswear was a

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For more information on the Harleys for Hospice raffle, including contest rules, visit granitevna.org/harleys.

Page 22 | THE LAKER | AUGUST 24, 2026

Ortiz’s War – Lecture and Book Signing by Author Katie S. Sanders On Tuesday, September 1st, the Wright Museum will welcome Katie Sanders. This is the fifteenth program of the Wright Museum’s 2026 Education Series.

Peter J. Ortiz’s path to becoming the most battle-decorated member of America’s first spy agency—and one of the most decorated Marines of World War II—was unlike any other. Born in New York and raised between California and France, he would have stints as a merchant seaman, dude ranch manager, race car driver, lion tamer, circus performer, and Hollywood stuntman and actor. As a teenager, Ortiz ran away from boarding school in France to join

the French Foreign Legion. He first experienced combat in North Africa against tribesmen in the Sahara. Fighting on the front lines against the Germans in 1940, he was badly wounded and captured. He repeatedly escaped, one time fleeing a hospital train after assuming the identity of a dead soldier.

Docking in the US the day after Pearl Harbor, Ortiz enlisted in the Marine Corps. As someone who could speak French like a native–and get by in Arabic, German, and Spanish–the dashing former Legionnaire immediately stood out. Instead of being deployed to the Pacific like the majority of Marines, Ortiz was recruited by the Office of As Low As

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Strategic Services (OSS)—America’s World War II forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency—for special operations in North Africa and Europe.

In 1944, Ortiz parachuted into France on two top-secret inter-Allied missions.

Operating deep behind enemy lines, he traveled throughout Southeastern France—at times donning his Marine uniform—arming and training the Maquis, blowing up Nazi infrastructure, and aiding downed Allied airmen. Rotating his many covers—including as a fashion designer and minor Vichy government official—he infiltrated Nazi gatherings and funneled intelligence about German positions back to OSS London ahead of D-Day. By the time he escaped across the Pyrenees, he was among the Gestapo’s most wanted.

Two months after the Normandy landings, Ortiz jumped back into the French Alps, this time with a team of Americans he recruited for “Le Grand Parachutage,” a drop that sent more than 150 tons of supplies raining down to the Maquis to fight the Axis. When his six-man patrol was surrounded by

more than one hundred Germans at the village of Centron, Ortiz faced a choice: fight the enemy or save the village from Nazi annihilation.

A rare Marine in the European Theater, he received two Navy Crosses. Ortiz’s story—an untold corner of World War II history—is one of extraordinary courage, resistance, and self-sacrifice.

Doors open at 6 pm; the program begins at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 1 at the Wright Museum’s DuQuoin Education Center, 77 Center Street in Wolfeboro. Admission is $8 for members and $12 for non-members. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online at wrightmuseum. org/lecture-series or by calling 603569-1212.

The region’s leading resource for educators and learners of all ages on World War II, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the home front and battlefield. For more information about the 2026 Lecture Series, or museum, visit wrightmuseum.org.

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